This is in response to questions about literature circles. I have been using them for the past five years. Each year, I get better and better at modeling and teaching the kids my expectations. In turn, the discussions the kids have and the questions they write, get better and better each year. A while back, someone asked me to post my lit.circle plan and she published it on her website: http://www.share2learn.com/ideaslanguage22.html
However, I have to say that this is a long process. I am on my fourth rotation of lit.circles this school year. The first three we did were picture books. We are now embarking on chapter books and I am now using them in all three blocks. We ability group (not my idea) and I've never been brave enough to use them with any group but my high group but this year I bit the bullet. I have been extremely pleased with how my struggling readers have handled them. My best advice is to start slowly and don't set your expectations so high the first time. Like I said, this is the first year that I have had a great deal of confidence sending the kids out on their own. Just a note...I don't use roles in my lit.circles. They don't work for me and I find that they limit the kids in those roles. Since I use the Comprehension Toolkit and Strategies That Work religiously, all of my students are expected to do all things! They do work for some...I'm just not one of them! Angela Hatley Almond Fourth Grade East Albemarle Elementary School _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
